Press

Finn’s Gin is one of the products carefully made on the very popular stretch of Milwaukee Avenue, in North Western Chicago’s achingly hip Logan Square area by Chicago Distilling Company. With its tall bottle, fervent supporters recommending it and cheeky halo on the logo – we were intrigued to take a closer look.

Chicago Distilling Company was founded in 2010 and is family owned and operated by the DiPrizio family (Jay and Noelle are married, and they are joined in this adventure by Jay’s brother Vic). While a relatively recent addition to the craft distilling scene, the story really begins in the Wisconsin North Woods, nearly a century ago. Noelle’s family has a long history of moonshining (but not if the Feds ask… then it’s just talk). Growing up in the Chicago suburb of Buffalo Grove, she had no idea of her family’s past. It was only once her husband Jay, discovered it spending time with her family, did the idea start to take seed.

One such operation calls a very popular stretch of Milwaukee Avenue home; Logan Square’sChicago Distilling Company. We caught up with one of the three founders, Jay DiPrizio, to discuss artisan spirits in a city that takes its booze seriously. And, we converse over how a family history inspired him to pursue the craft, how he was able to develop a line of beer-inspired whiskey and how brewing beer might be in their future.

“This distillery makes all the spirits it serves in its tasting room (by law, they can’t serve any other alcohol). I’d have expected this to make the cocktail menu feel limited, especially since I prefer dark spirits and the only options so far are vodka, gin, and white whiskey—but I’m always impressed by the creativity and complexity of the drinks here, particularly a white whiskey old-fashioned.”

Chicago is a town that embraces the craft spirit movement with arms flung wide. Options abound for those who appreciate the love and effort that goes into creating these barrels of goodness. Worth checking out is Chicago Distilling Company, a family-owned distillery that specializes in creating spirits with organic grains from Illinois.